https://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends.atomaeuoeu - Friends2017-12-28T23:24:00+01:00aeuoeuhttps://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends/chavez-van-den-born2017-12-28T23:24:00+01:002017-12-28T23:34:52+01:00Dutch Moluccan photographer Chavez would never betray his rootsFerkan Metin
We asked the incredibly gifted photographer of ‘Don’t let others decide’ to provide us a look into his mind.

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Easily among the greatest things of working hard to fulfill our debranding mission in the fashion industry, is the privilege of meeting many like-minded, dedicated talents and inspiring artists throughout the year. Without a doubt, our photographer for project ‘Don’t let others decide’, Chavez van den Born, proved to qualify as one of them in 2017. Wanting to know more about him, we asked him a couple of fundamental questions about photography, life, and society.

First of, Chavez, please introduce yourself. Who are you, where you from, what keeps you busy?I’m a Documentary & Fashion Photographer, Art Director and Music curator for my own music collective Sosodality. I am born and bred in the small city of Arnhem, which resides in the east of the Netherlands. I’m from Dutch and Moluccan heritage. I am a student Photography at the School of Arts in Utrecht, and currently in my graduation year where I research about the friction between double nationalities as a Dutch Moluccan.

Our followers might know you because of your endeavors for our project ‘Don’t let others decide’. Why did you and aeuoeu turn out to be such a well-fitting match?

Probably because we have the same mindset. You guys wanted to tell the same story as I did about those magnificent newcomers. I want their stories to be heard too. There is enough pain and trouble in today’s society, so let’s help each other out a bit. Even if people are foreign to one another. I think we can learn from every individual.

Unfortunately though, you’re not our very own photographer. You’ve been working on your own portfolio too. Would you be able to elaborate upon some of your finest projects?

I’ve been pretty busy with my own portfolio lately in a more commercial, fashion related way. Besides, I also love portraying human beings. I mostly take inspiration from a Japanese form of photography in which subjects are photographed rather harsh by using the flash extensively. A project that comes to mind in that regard was an assignment for Dutch Moroccan fashion designer Karim Adduchi. I had to capture one of his shows, situated in a church. It was a pretty cool show with an awesome collection, inspired by Arabian clothing with a western touch. I made some beautiful portraits of the models getting dressed, waiting and standing in the make up for hours. I really liked this one.

Another project I’m fairly proud of called ‘A New Generation’ is used for my upcoming graduation project. I photographed young Moluccan men that, despite their similar roots, grew up so differently because of deviating cultural influences, living standards, and interracial relationships.

Also noteworthy is my project ‘Rendezvous’. I photographed my dating life for a year to depict the ‘fast’ dating life, its interchangeability, and erotica in a young adult’s life. It’s totally different from what I was used to do. I didn’t portray people like I usually do. It was more of an animalistic instinct which gave me the urge to photograph my date. It was like saving a precious and specific moment of time.

It seems obvious that your roots have influenced your work as a photographer. Do you roots also influence you as a human being?

True. Their stories about the struggle of living in an unknown, cold environment - raising kids, reinforcing the family bond and preserving our culture, are stories I will keep on telling throughout my photography. And yes, my roots definitely influence me as a human being - it helps me seeing things from an another perspective. Being a halfbreed of a minority group that occupies a black page in the Dutch history, makes me think about our ‘melting pot’ society. It enables me to see and tell a different story than others.

Are your roots a driving force in achieving your dreams?

Absolutely. My grandmother, who unfortunately passed away not so long ago, is the driving force behind all of my work and the way I live today. She came here from The Moluccans with only a suitcase and the clothes she were wearing. She and her parents had to figure out how to adapt to a totally new and strange environment. She succeeded though. She raised eight children on her own, worked at a factory and gave everyone here motherly love. Most of all, she gave her remaining energy and love to her grandchildren till the day she passed away. In my opinion, no had a tougher life than her. She is my motivation. When I feel like peaking, I look at my forearm to remember there is more to achieve. Like she could.

Speaking of dreams, what is that one thing you wanna have contributed to during your career?

I want to have created stuff that no has ever seen. It’s a thrill to create something totally new and discover what the function of it could be. It keeps me going to think out concepts and trying to recreate the exact thing that I envisioned on paper and in my head. It’s always a huge adrenaline rush. Currently I have that same feeling with my graduation project, which should be an experience of imagery, video, touch, and scents.

The past half an hour we’ve already been asking pretty much. What we didn’t ask though, is the philosophy that characterizes Chavez. What is your daily ‘carpe diem’?

“Ale rasa, Beta Rasa". Which translates to what you feel is what I feel. I am fond of all sorts of people. Every single one of them. Unfortunately, many are often unheard and misunderstood. Let’s, firstly, just try to peacefully communicate with each other. We are able to understand each other.

Chavez also runs music collective Sosodality full of future beats, with cousin Matjang and best friend MDOS. Check it out here!

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https://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends/what-do-our-friends-from-around-the-globe-actually-think-of-aeuoeu2017-07-02T12:58:00+02:002017-07-02T14:20:24+02:00What do our friends from around the globe actually think of aeuoeu?Kees Smeets
We asked a couple of our most loyal fans to briefly set out their views on aeuoeu. What exactly attracts them to us?

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Honestly, we haven't been thanking our loyal customers enough lately. We should pay more attention to our fans who have been ordering our caps from all over the world. Every single customer should be celebrated and feel appreciated. Regardless of the number of caps one possesses or the country one represents. Therefore, we decided to ask a couple of our most loyal fans to briefly set out their views on aeuoeu. What exactly attracts them to aeuoeu?

"From the moment that I got introduced to the products of aeuoeu I was sold. I like the story behind aeuoeu, where the focus lies on the quality of the product and not on the name of the company. Also, I like the personal approach and the high quality of the products obviously!"

"For me, aeuoeu represents everything. The design and the material make the caps super versatile, which is what I need in Vietnam. The weather here is HOT and the sun may burn you alive. I kid you not. For protection, I wanted nice caps that look great over any outfit, which I can pop on my head when running any errand or going out for a nice cup of caphe sua da. You can wear them over chique outfits, to be protected yet fabulous when you're outside. You can rock them with athleisure, which is perfect for hiking trips. The best thing yet, is that the cap has a basic and unisex design. I can pair it with an oversized T and dark lipstick, to make me feel tough, or I match it with an off-the-shoulder dress and wedges, with typical Korean style makeup, to make me feel cutesy. The material is sturdy, yet soft enough to wear under a helmet, as I am driving all day, all night on my cute yellow moped over highways and in the buzzing Ho Chi Minh City."

"When I noticed aeuoeu in the French Wad Mag, I felt seduced by the degree of minimalism in these caps. The colors comprise an elegant suede material. Besides the product itself, I appreciate the fact that we can appropriate the brand by pronouncing its name as we we'd like. For all these reasons, I decided to introduce aeuoeu to my community."

"Personally, I am a sucker for unusual materials. Nappy suede or pony hair on sneakers? Love it! Naturally, I fell in love with the unique material of the aeuoeu caps. The monotone colours, which are each beautiful on their own, make the suede stand out even more."

On a side note, we recently noticed that the professional Icelandic football player Adam Orn Arnarson, currently playing for Aalesunds FK in Norway, also is the proud owner of two of our caps! Feel welcomed in our community!

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https://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends/ahmed-bas-wants-to-inspire-others-without-becoming-cool2017-01-28T14:44:00+01:002017-01-28T14:54:09+01:00Ahmed Bas wants to inspire others without becoming coolFerkan Metin
We’ve had a chat with one of Rotterdam’s most promising, yet unknown artists about fashion, art and Özdemir Erdoğan.

My name's Ahmed Bas, I’m a 22 year old Dutch artist. I was born and raised in Rotterdam by my loving Turkish parents. Besides being engaged on rather conventional artistry, I also like to paint clothes such as jeans and caps. The latter is also what I did for aeuoeu for the occasion of this interview.

Let's elaborate upon you as an artist: how did you get involved in art?

It all started when I was a kid in primary school and all I did was drawing and crafting. This hobby escalated rather quickly and I started to screw up school to some degree. My then teacher told me to look after a creative school where I would’ve fit way better than at these conventional schools. So I did. I went to the Graphisch Lyceum in Rotterdam, during which I learned plenty of interesting techniques, such as etching and ‘lino’ techniques. Additionally, I was able to experiment a lot with (editing of) videos. As we speak, I’m finishing my school after five years - including one extra year trying to find what I like most. And what I like most? Being dedicated to works that belong to me only, to strengthen every aspect of my creation in order to form an indisputable whole made by me.

Besides your passion for art, what else do you like?

This may sound cliche, but I’m a genuine movie and music nerd. I consider myself a true geek when it comes down to these two things. My favourites? There are so many movies and musicians that truly inspire me, but Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner would be my all time favourite. This movie is in my opinion absolutely unique in its visual and musical blend, through which another world is presented. With regard to music it’s even harder to choose a number one, but Özdemir Erdoğan’s Gurbet touched me recently. The song is about the struggles of life and how dreams and uncertainty go hand in hand. This appears to be quite applicable to me currently. Although I do exactly know what I want in art and life, there’s always a degree of uncertainty and mystery of what is next. No one knows what ‘the other side’ is like.

We talked about art and we've seen you combine art with clothing. How do they relate to each other in your vision?

First of all, I like fashion and particularly unusual editions which are either difficult to find or simply terribly expensive because it’s considered high-end. Fashion on its own is a form of art in my opinion. Whether by needle and thread or by brush, in the end you’re creating a piece of art. The main difference is the amount of viewers: one may purchase a piece of art and no one will ever see it again except in the owner’s house - however, if you buy a pair of jeans, possibly painted by me, any passer-by may enjoy the look.

Looking back at things, anything you would do differently if you could go back five years in time?

I used to be quite a bit lazier back then and I definitely should've worked harder. On the other hand I also truly believe that amongst others this laziness helped me in becoming the kind of person I am today. So in retroperspective, I don't think I would've tackled it differently.

So what is your goal concerning art?

Many people aim for lots of money or exposure. Or hanging around with seemingly cool people in order to become one of them. I don’t. I want to leave something behind. Not for me or for my family, but for the world in its entirety. I would be tremendously happy if it turned out in the end that I’ve inspired other people. Luckily, it appears to be impossible for me to just sit on my ass all day long doing nothing. So there’s enough time available to achieve my goal.Who would you like to show most what you have achieved so far?

I've been creating art since I was young, and I owe the creative genes definitely to my mother. She has a brother who lives in Nevsehir who's also an artist and he always keeps me sharp. Whenever I visited Turkey I brought along my stuff so he could have a look at it - not as an uncle, but as a fellow artist. He wanted me to improve certain skills and he always criticized me straightly. Mainly because of him I have this drive and lifestyle nowadays. Although I gradually became independent of him with regard to inspiration, his energy still happens to motivate me.

What’s the thing you're most proud of?

Even though all of my works clearly differ from each other, one might still notice it’s mine. Especially since I don’t want to be know for one thing only or be considered a one trick pony, it’s nice that all of my diverging works seem to be unmistakably made by me. Although they all have unique elements, I think one might still notice they are mine. This is where me as an artist and aeuoeu’s products obviously match: due to its incredibly minimalistic and therefore deviating designs, one will most likely notice its aeuoeu’s. Look, both art and fashion should have a certain degree of singularity and that is exactly what we’re both aiming for: being unique although recognizable.

So, what can we expect from you soon?

Currently I'm experimenting with image and graphics. I’m trying to put my knowledge of music, movies, my works of art, friends and environment, affinity with fashion in one giant masterpiece. It appears to be a rather lengthy process, but I definitely hope to be finished next year.

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https://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends/chat-with-merel-ana2016-10-12T17:23:00+02:002017-08-10T04:21:46+02:00Merel Ana doesn't want to be a billboard for brands anymoreFerkan MetinMore]]>

Who are you?

My name is Merel Ana, born and raised in Amsterdam Bijlmer, 24 years old and a Willem de Kooning Academy graduate. At this very moment I make illustrations, paintings, murals, tattoos, customize clothing and I design socks.

Could you elaborate upon your two greatest passions, art and fashion? Which appeals to you most?

From my point of view, fashion could be classified as ’art’ as well, or at least it is quite similar to it. Especially when I talk about haute couture, which I love the most about fashion. When you think about the catwalk shows of - for example - Comme des Garcons, Undercover, Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Viktor & Rolf, Iris van Herpen (and maaaaany more) fashion is very comparable to art. Therefore it’s also hard to choose between art and fashion because in my opinion its part of the same thing: creating beautiful things. But if I have to choose, I would go for art, because in art you have endless possibilities.

What is fashion according to Merel Ana? Why does aeuoeu match with your fashion beliefs?

Fashion is the art of wearing things, I guess. How to make progressive, original, good-looking clothes, how to combine them, how to wear them. It’s all in the details. I think fashion is something you could express yourself in (sounds corny, I know, but it’s true), so you wear whatever you like, in the way you like, and you can have preferences when it comes to brands. Some brands you really feel attracted to, and some you would never wear, because of their tone of voice, style or their target audience. It’s weird that it can actually tell a lot about you which brands you’re attracted to, except when some brands become a hype and everyone starts to wear it. Like the Thrasher-hype for example, which is a skateboard brand, while 95% of the people that wear it now never touched a skateboard. But I think we should choose more wisely and instead of being a billboard for brands and acting cool because we wear particular brands, wear things that show who you are and what you like as a person or what your beliefs are. aeuoeu shows that it’s not important nor necessary to wear brands, which is a good thing, and is something I could learn from myself as well. If you like everything about the cap, why on earth should there be a logo on it? And by giving the brand an impossible name to pronounce, aeuoeu shows that the branding of the brand itself isn’t important, but the products are.

If you could go back in time, would you choose for another route with the knowledge you have know?

Maybe I would. I think I would have skipped the art academy, actually. I didn’t really learn something, I only got bashed by my teachers all the time. It didn’t work out for me. It might have been better for me that I went to university and kept art as an intensive hobby. You don’t need a certificate to make art or to be appreciated. As long as your work and your network are good, you’re fine. Often its even just about the connections and your work doesn’t really matter. The art world is pretty weird.

Who would you like to show most what you have achieved so far (i.e. the teacher who never truly believed in you, a family member, your jealous friend, an ex-boyfriend)?

That’s without any doubt my father, who is not with us anymore, unfortunately. I always cared about his opinion the most. As long as my father was happy, I was happy. He always gave me the best advices. It became harder for me to make (the right) choices now he’s not alive anymore. Even though my mom took over that position now, its not the same as it used to be. But after my dad, I really care about what my mother thinks about every step I make because she is such an incredibly intelligent and interesting person. I really look up to her. And last but not least: I’d like to show myself what I have achieved. I always have to prove myself to myself.

What are you most proud of with regards to your career so far?

Maybe it sounds a bit weird or rude, but actually nothing really. I am not quickly satisfied and have incredibly high standards. I can be sorta happy with some things I did or created, but I guess I’m too down to earth and maybe too ambitious to be proud of myself, ever. But it’s not by definition a bad thing, I don’t feel bad because of that. Maybe if my work would be exhibited in Tate Modern or MOMA I would be proud, but no doubt I’d still play it down, haha.

There's still a relatively long way to go in order to become the next Banksy. What should your next step be? Will that be your actual next step?

I’m swimming in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean at this very moment. No clue which direction to go to. But I think my next step will be an exhibition. I really have to push myself to make that happen, but one day it will be there, I’m sure about that.

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https://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends/barbara-malewicz2016-10-04T15:09:00+02:002017-01-28T12:21:49+01:00Parisienne Malebitch likes it kitsch, edgy and definitely weirdFerkan MetinMore]]>
Who are you?My name is Barbara Malewicz, I'm 25 years old. On Instagram I'm also known as Malebitch.

What do you do?I've completed my study in fashion design two years ago and I've had various experiences for jewelry brands such as Kirsty Ward and Christopher Kane. After working for TANK in London, l'Officiel Women in Paris, I now work as an editor for the Parisian WAD Magazine. What is your vision on fashion? I've always had a different vision about fashion. I'm not really into the conventional things - even though I have attended a few sometimes. I like everything edge, weird, kitsch but likewise I'm into sportswear.

What is life after fashion like?Apart from all that fashion craziness, a few people know this but I keep on drawing and painting and I'm quite keen on video games.

Make sure to show some love by following her on Instagram and visiting her blog.

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https://aeuo.eu/blogs/friends/fifa-tournament2016-09-26T21:23:00+02:002017-01-28T12:22:10+01:00A FIFA Tournament in a nightclub: because why not?Ferkan MetinWe’ve had a blast during our FIFA-tournament at the Yessur Block Party in Studio/K, Amsterdam.

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Saturday 24th of September we’ve had a blast at our FIFA-tournament at the Yessur Block Party in Studio/K Amsterdam. We've got to know our already loyal fans better, even though many tears were shed also new friendships were made in the heat of the moment.

Our compliments to Marlin, not only one of our beloved models but apparently a legendary FIFA-player as well.